Two men jailed for 17 and 14 years respectively for the brutal robbery and killing of another man near Ardee, Co Louth, in order to secure his Christmas double social welfare payment had their sentences reduced to 15 and 10 years at the Court of Criminal Appeal yesterday.
Both Martin Myles, now aged 34, with an address at Ferdia Park, Ardee, and Kevin Reilly, now aged 21, unemployed, with an address near Ardee, had argued the 17 and 14 year sentences imposed respectively on them arising from the death of Patrick Clinton (59), a separated father of six, at Ballybailey, Ardee, on December 19th, 2000, were unduly severe.
The trial court heard that Mr Clinton, who had returned to Ardee earlier in 2000 after working for many years in the construction industry in England, lived in a caravan in his elderly mother's garden at the time of the incident.
Myles and Reilly had been drinking on the night and had decided to go to Mr Clinton's caravan to rob him. They had carried knives. They were admitted to the caravan by Mr Clinton who was there with his brother, Noel, and some drinks were consumed.
Reilly had at some point produced a knife and stabbed Mr Clinton who made his way to his mother's home nearby and she phoned for an ambulance. Gardaí were quickly on the scene and Mr Clinton told them it was "Myles and Reilly". Mr Clinton, who had a heart condition, died later in hospital. Both Myles and Reilly had later admitted their involvement in the incident.
The three judges said that while the sentences imposed on both of them were long, they were not unprecedentedly so.
However, Mr Justice Hardiman, who was sitting with Ms Justice Laffoy and Mr Justice Peart, said it was "unsatisfactory and somewhat disturbing" that no greater explanation had been given by the trial judge for the sentences imposed.
